In the News

Navigator to help train fixed-wing pilots as part of CAE USA team

Article Index

Navigator Development Group Inc. is part of the CAE USA team recently awarded a contract to train Army and Air Force fixed-wing pilots in Dothan, Alabama, which is near the U.S. Army's Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE) at Fort Rucker.

The U.S. Army awarded the contract to CAE USA to provide comprehensive initial and recurrent training for more than 600 U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force fixed-wing pilots trained annually at CAE’s new Dothan Training Center. Navigator has been subcontracted by CAE USA to provide single engine and multi-engine instructor pilot support, training management and curriculum development assistance.

The firm-fixed-price prime contract awarded to CAE USA is for the base period, with six one-year options through March 2024.

Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell was pleased to hear Navigator was a part of the CAE USA team on the fixed-wing contract. “Anytime a contract is awarded locally that supports our military, that is great news,” he said. “Navigator Development Group is a great corporate citizen in Enterprise and I am proud of the work they do for our city and for our military. They do it professionally and do it the right way.”

The Army’s fixed-wing training program is responsible for transitioning rotary wing aviators to fly the Army's fleet of more than 350 fixed-wing aircraft. It also serves as the formal training unit for Army C-12/RC-12 King Air recurrent training, and provides annual training for U.S. Air Force C-12 King Air pilots.

The Grob G120TP aircraft was selected as the single engine training aircraft for the U.S. Army fixed- wing program. The Grob G120TP is a fully aerobatic trainer with a glass cockpit that will streamline the student’s transition from rotary-wing flight to fixed-wing flight. Five of the six Grob aircraft ordered by CAE were delivered to the Dothan Regional Airport. At full strength, there will be six CAE-owned Grob aircraft in addition to the 10 C-12U Army-owned aircraft used for live flight training.

Under the new contract, the Army and the CAE USA team will implement a new initial-entry fixed-wing training program to fast track flight school students into fixed-wing aircraft. To do this, CAE is currently building a new training center at the Dothan Regional Airport, which features state-of-the-art classrooms, simulators, flight training devices, integrated training management system and other modern capabilities.

“They have a large task in front of them in the training of future aviators that will serve our country, but I know that they are a group that will provide quality training and those pilots will be prepared to protect and defend our country,” Boswell said.

Navigator’s employees will work at CAE’s new Dothan Training Center, are managed by the corporate office in Enterprise.

Founded in 1947, CAE is a global leader in training for the defense and security, civil aviation, and healthcare markets.

Navigator is Fort Rucker’s hometown service-disabled veteran‐owned small business. For nearly two decades, Navigator has provided top quality products and services to government and industry customers in the areas of aviation, training and technology.